Description
Warm, savory, and deeply spiced, this slow-cooked chili features ground beef, crushed tomatoes, and bold spices for a perfect, hearty meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 900 g (2 lb) 80/20 ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced (about 150 g / 1 cup)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 9 g)
- 1 red bell pepper, diced (about 150 g / 1 cup)
- 2 x 400 g (14 oz) cans crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp (33 g) tomato paste
- 400 g (14 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 240 ml (1 cup) low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tbsp (16 g) chili powder
- 1 tbsp (7 g) ground cumin
- 1 tsp (2 g) smoked paprika
- 1 tsp (4 g) kosher salt (Diamond Crystal)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) brown sugar or maple syrup
- 1 tsp (3 g) unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) lime juice or apple cider vinegar
- Garnishes: sour cream, shredded cheddar, cilantro, sliced jalapeños, tortilla chips
Instructions
- Brown the beef: Heat a heavy skillet over medium-high until shimmering. Add 1 tbsp neutral oil and ground beef, breaking it into pieces. Brown, stirring often, for 6-8 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker, leaving behind excess fat.
- Sauté the aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet and sauté for about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30-45 seconds.
- Deglaze and combine: Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Pour in beef broth to deglaze the pan and then transfer the mixture to the slow cooker.
- Add tomatoes, beans, and spices: Combine crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, brown sugar, cocoa powder, and Worcestershire sauce in the slow cooker.
- Slow cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary.
- Finish and serve: Stir in lime juice or vinegar and taste for balance. If the chili is too thin, cook on HIGH for an additional 15-30 minutes without the lid.
Notes
This chili improves in flavor the next day and can be stored in the refrigerator or frozen for later use.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 480 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups (350 g)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 90mg